Far Western Basque Country

The experience of Basque immigrants to the United States has come inmany shapes and forms, and Asun Garikano takes nearly all of theminto account in this comprehensive look at the lives of the ordinarymen and women who made the brave journey to the US West in searchof a better life. Although their experiences were very diverse, onecommonality was the aid they received from fellow Basques. They wereoften met at the dock in New York City with the familiar sound of theirlanguage and helped to find a place on the transcontinental train withtheir names and destinations pinned to their coats. They worked atranches, farms and businesses often owned by people from their samehometowns. They found conversation, fellowship, and cheer atboardinghouses where they shared the games, drinks, language, andfood of their homeland. In Far Western Basque Country these andmany other stories are told about the individual immigrants that madeup the Basque diaspora in the United States. Some stayed, somereturned, some lost money, some became rich and powerful. Theyadopted their new homeland and its ways. They fought in its wars,celebrated its highs and suffered its lows, but in the face of it, they allremained Basque.